International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition ISSN: 2455-4898, Impact Factor: RJIF 5.14 www.foodsciencejournal.com Volume 2; Issue 1; January 2017; Page No. 109-113 Knowledge and Awareness about Health Benefits of indigenous fermented foods: A comprehensive study 1 Sasmita Sahoo, *2 Dr. Chandrashree Lenka, 3 Dr. Gayatri Biswal 1 Research Scholar, Ramadevi University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 2 Lecturer in Home Science, R.D. Women’ College, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 3 Reader in Home Science, R.D. Women’s University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India *Corresponding Author Abstract Fermented foods are not exactly human inventions they are natural phenomena that people observe and then learn how to cultivate. It is a unique process with great potential which is an environment friendly process, consume less energy, produce less waste and easy to manage under house hold condition as well as in industrial scale. Fermentation of food offer immense opportunity for production of products which can be classified as “organic food and natural food”, “health food and convenience food”, ethnic food and functional food “ and not to forget’ “food for clinical nutrition” . Fermented foods are manufactured and consumed throughout the world. The foods such as cereals, pulses. Oat crops, vegetables, fruits, meat and fish are preserved by one or other method of fermentation. The objectives of the research were to study the knowledge about preparation of traditional methods of fermented foods and awareness about their health benefits used at house hold level by the homemaker. One hundred housewives were selected by random purposive sampling method for present study. The data was collected with the help of questionnaire cum interview method .Results of the study revealed that majority of the respondents were not aware about the term “fermented food” even though they use it in their day to day life. The most common fermented foods used at house hold level were Water rice (Pakhal), Pan Cake (Chakuli pitha, Chitau pitha), Curd, Torani kanji etc. Majority of the respondents used Water rice (Pakhal) as one of their staple food. Very few respondents were aware about health benefits of fermented foods. Most of them used fermented foods because of traditional practice. Fermented foods were seldom used by modern house wives because of lack of knowledge about their preparation, usage and nutritional value. However traditional preparation of those foods is largely uncontrolled and laid no guidelines are available. Further as people move from rural area to urban area they often give up traditional foods and inclined towards westernized foods. Thus steps should be taken to educate and create awareness among people regarding health benefits of the fermented foods for greater interest of the society. Keywords: fermented food, water rice (pakhala), pan cake (chakuli), chitau pitha, curd, torani kanji Introduction characteristic, Such as (A) Fermented foods can be stored for a A food is considered fermented when one or more of its certain length of time. (B) Fermented foods have a very constituents have been acted upon by microorganisms to distinctive flavor and smell. (C) It promotes good health. Odisha produce a considerably altered product acceptable for human is one of the state of India where different types of fermented use. Traditional or indigenous fermented foods are those popular foods are used and prepared in different ways at house hold products that are used since early history. These can be prepared level. It is observed that even though those food stuffs are very in the household or in cottage industry using relatively simple good for health, preparation and intake of these fermented foods technique and equipment. The origin of most fermentation are decreasing day by day. Therefore this work is designed to technologies have been lost in the mist history. Many fermented study the knowledge and awareness of the house wives about foods are not receiving world attention for their health health benefits of Indigenous fermented foods at household promoting or disease preventing effect. There are some level. important steps of preparation of different types of fermented foods traditionally practise in our country. Fermentation is the Objective process according to which microorganisms break down organic The objectives of the present research were to study the matter to obtain the energy required to stay alive and make knowledge about traditional methods of preparation of organic compounds such as alcohols and organic acid, as well as fermented foods and awareness about the health benefits of inorganic compounds such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen. fermented foods of the homemakers. Depending on the substances formed the process is called alcohol fermentation ,lactic acid fermentation, amino acid Methodology fermentation etc, Fermentation is used in various ways in our One hundreds house wives were selected by random purposive day to day lives. There are various types of fermented foods used sampling for the present study. The data was collected with the all over the world but they all share some of the same help of questionnaire cum interview method. 109 International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition RESEARCH METHOD AREA OF SELECTION ANALYSIS OF DATA DURATION DATA COLLECTION SAMPLING METHOD ODISHA CLASSIFICATION TWO MONTH RANDOM TOOL OF CUTTACK DATA SAMPLE SIZE SOURCE OF TABULATION DATA QUESTIONNAIRE CUM MEAN / % PURPOSIVE N=100 PRIMARY DATA INTERVIEW SCHEDULE SAMPLING HOUSEWIVES MAHANADIVIHAR CHAULIAGANJ KALYANI NAGAR SHIKHARPUR Result and Discussion The results of the study were statistically analyzed and discussed below. A) Demographic Profile of the Respondent Table 1: Demographic profile of the respondents (N =100) S. No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage Age – Below 20 years Nil - 1. 20 to 50 years 85 85 Above 50 years 15 15 Education – Below 10th Nil - 2. 10th to Graduation 36 36 Above Graduation 64 64 Total Family Income- 05 Low income (less than 1 lakh) 05 3. 84 Middle income (1 lakh to 2 lakh) 84 11 High income ( above 2 lakh ) 11 Types of Family – Joint family 32 32 4. Nuclear family 68 68 Information on demographic profile of the home makers C) Frequency and types of fermented foods consumed by the revealed that majority of the respondents were between the age respondents group of 20 to 50 years. All of them were well educated and 64% Table 3: Frequency and types of fermented food consumed by of them were educated above graduation. Maximum of the respondent (N=100) respondents belonged middle income group family and nuclear family system was found to be prevalent among the respondents. S. No. Foods Consumed Daily Weekly Occasionally 1. Water Rice (Pakhala) 16 39 45 2. Curd (Dahi) 32 60 08 B) Knowledge about Fermented Foods 3. Pancake (Chakuli) 06 84 10 4. Idli 00 39 61 Table 2: Knowledge about Fermented foods (N=100) 5. Torani kanji 00 00 100 S. No. Response Frequency Percentage Results of the table no 3 depicts that daily consumption of Curd 1. Positive 26 26 was more in comparison to other food stuffs whereas Pancake 2. Negative 74 74 (Chakuli) consumption was more on weekly basis. However it was interesting to note that Idli and Torani kanji was not It was interesting to note that majority of the respondents were consumed daily by the respondents. Rice water, Curd and not aware about the term fermented foods even though they used Pancake was found to consume on regular basis by the it in their day today life. respondents. 110 International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition D) Acceptability of Fermented foods by different age groups calorie and vitamin B like riboflavin, which is easily digestible and good for health. ii) Preparation of Curd (Dahi) and its health benefits Boil the milk first. Let the milk become Luke warm, add 1 tsp of curd and mix well. Cover and keep the pan for 5-6 hours or till the curd set. It is made by using the culture of bacteria called lactobacillus deldrueckii. These lactobacillus aids lot of benefits to the digestive system, help to cure many stomach infections, including pyloric infection. It strengthen our immune system due to presence of good bacteria. Curd has anti-fungal properties It was interesting to note that respondents belonged to middle mainly due to availability of lactic acid. Consuming Curd daily age group (64%) or old age group (32%) liked to take fermented will prevent hypertension and promote better cardiovascular foods in comparison to younger ones. health E) Perception about Fermented Foods iii) Preparation of Torani Kanji and its health benefits Take Torani in a bowl. Add Salt, Water, Bengal gram flour, and Table No 4: Perception about Fermented foods (N = 100) Turmeric Powder in curd and mix properly so that it will get any S No. Characteristics Frequency Percentage lumps. Cut Pumpkin, Ladies finger and Papaya in dice shape. 1. Taste 24 24 Cut Radish in round shape. Wash and drain the cut vegetables. 2. Varity 64 64 Boil the vegetable with salt and turmeric .Cut Green Chilly in 3. Preservation 06 06 lengthwise. Take a pan and heat 1tbsp of Oil and fry the Ladies 4. Good for Health 06 06 finger & Radish for 5 mins in low flame. Take a heavy bottom pan & add the Torani mixture with Green Chilly and boil it for Result of Table no 4 revealed that most (64%) of the respondents 7 mins. Add all the vegetables and boil for 5-7 mins. Now add liked to take fermented foods to add variety to their diet and 24% Ladies finger and again boil till all the vegetables get cooked. of the respondents liked to take it because of taste. Only 12% Take the pan out from heat and keep side. Heat another 1 tbsp of respondents used fermented foods for preservation health Oil in a Frying Pan.